Soap: Episode 84

Soap: Episode 84
ABC
March 16, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
C

While I like the conversation between Chester and Jessica, in which he explains that although he didn't love her at first, he grew to love her, and he knows he's just a habitual cheater and that has nothing to do with love, the rest of the episode has definite flaws.  For one thing, Jessica forgives Chester but not Mary, but it's unclear why, other than I guess she has much lower standards for her ex-husband than for her sister.

The biggest flaw though is that Burt has a Brady-Bunch level "swell head" personality change, only worse because Burt is supposed to be an adult.  He forbids Danny to marry Gwen, not because Danny is again rushing into a relationship, but because Gwen is a hooker and this would make Burt's war on crime look bad.  Um, excuse me but Danny used to be in the mob, and Burt is himself a killer, albeit unintentional.  Burt also insults Bob, even after Bob gets him a dinner at the White House.  Yet Chuck and Bob show up later to help plan a rescue of Jodie and Maggie, seemingly having forgiven Burt.  Burt is also worried about the press finding out Wendy was born out of wedlock and has an "allegedly homosexual father."  I'd go even lower on the grade, but at least Mary and Danny try to stand up to Burt.

Jodie, Eunice, and Dutch are absent.  Note that Burt is on the cover of Newsview.  I wonder if Donald Hollinger wrote the article.